Operation Iron Fury was designed to reduce the influence of the Madhi Army in Sadr City and provide a stable environment for residents and secure working conditions for civil-military operations. Operation Iron Fury began on August 17, 2004 with the Iron Horse Brigade Soldiers of the 1st Cavalry Division rooting out Madhi forces from the eastern Baghdad district.

Civilian contractors have been unable to return to the eastern district now known as Sadr City due to the widespread violence stemming from Madhi Army forces.

The 2nd Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Brigade Combat Team were supported by elements of the 1st Battalion, 12th Cavalry Regiment and the 2nd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, both of which are part of the Iron Horse Brigade. The extensive operation against the Madhi army by U.S troops also saw support from Company C, 115th Forward Support Battalion, a team of medics from 1-12 Cav., and two Civil Affairs teams from the 478th Civil Affairs Battalion.

According to CENTCOM the pushing and sweeps of city blocks have netted an unknown number of detainees and a variety of weapons, such as sniper rifles, AK-47s, an RPG launcher with several armor-piercing rocket-propelled grenades, and a couple of mortars. The increase in insurgent violence since August 5, 2004 had caused government offices in the area to close.